These field notes are from the Sandpiper, a publication of Yaquina Birders & Naturalists, Lincoln County, Oregon.
Comments about abundance or seasonality refer only to LINCOLN COUNTY. There is room here for only some of the many Lincoln County sightings posted to Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO), eBird.org or BirdNotes.net or emailed, telephoned, or mailed to me. If the same date and number of birds of a species given in eBird.org are reported in OBOL, LCBNO, or BirdNotes.net, I will assume the eBird report is a duplicate and will use the other reports that give more details, including location and observer.
If you have any field notes to share, please email (range.bayer at gmail.com) or mail (P.O. Box 1467, Newport, OR 97365) them to Range Bayer by the 20th of the month.
Many Lincoln Co. birding sites are in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide.
Semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 are in 1995 Journal of Oregon Ornithology 4:395-543 that is archived at ScholarsArchive@OSU (http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070).
------------------------------- Month of Sandpiper, Volume 33 ------------------------------- January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to site numbers in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park that includes Beaver Creek State Natural Area (http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_261.php), BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, COQUILLE POINT (along #67): southeast corner of Sally's Bend at about mile 3.5 along north Yaquina Bay Road, ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, YBCBC: Yaquina Bay Christmas Bird Count on Jan. 1, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport.
The Yaquina Bay CBC was held on New Year's Day and the weather was simply outstanding! Though it was overcast all day, we were rain free and the sun even poked through the clouds a few times. It was relatively warm all day, and the wind only started blowing at about 12 mph along the Yaquina River late in the afternoon. We had a total of 31 field observers and another dozen conducting feeder counts. We were especially pleased to have attracted eight new people to participate in this count, and it was the first CBC for each of them.
The total count for the day was 130 species. Here are some highlights:
* TUNDRA SWANS (8) were in lower Yaquina Bay
* A single male LONG-TAILED DUCK was found floating among a mixed flock of scoters north of Yaquina Head
* PACIFIC LOONS (123) were abundant in the lower bay and off of Yaquina Head. This was a max. high count for the species
* HOODED MERGANSERS (86) were also a max. high for the count
* A single RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was spotted near Newport's historic bayfront
* BROWN PELICANS (7) continued to be seen from the Yaquina Bay south jetty
* A TROPICAL KINGBIRD, a first for the count, was seen near the old Mill Pond by the Oregon Coast Aquarium
* AMERICAN DIPPERS (2) rounded out another fantastic day of birding on the Oregon coast.
Oh yes, we had a single ROCK SANDPIPER at Seal Rock for count week. Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the count. We hope to see you again for the 113th count.
A PDF file with some previous Yaquina Bay CBC results, as compiled by RB, is available at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#ybcbc
[Editor's Note: We thank Dawn for her time and energy in doing a great job as Compiler!]
BLo's completed his annual report for his 34th year of beached bird surveys along a total of 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach State Park. In 2011, he and his team (SLo, L&VO; BO filled in for 2 surveys) usually did their surveys at intervals of 8 days or less.
They found a total of 407 birds in 2011, which was below the 476 bird average for the previous 33 years.
In 2011, the eight most abundant species were Common Murre (171), Northern Fulmar (41), Rhinoceros Auklet (32), Sooty Shearwater (29), Western Gull (19), Brandt's Cormorant (14), Short-tailed Shearwater (13), and Black-legged Kittiwake (11); they constituted 81% of the 2011 total. The most abundant waterfowl species were White-winged Scoter (8) and Surf Scoter (5).
Most murres (122) were found late in October, with the number of adults unusually high for then. Fulmar numbers had dropped from 358 in 2010, and they did not show up on the beach until late November, a month later than usual. Most Rhinoceros Auklets were also found in November and December, so they may have been affected by the same factors affecting the murres.
Other than murres and Rhinoceros Auklets, only 3 other alcids (a single Pigeon Guillemot, Ancient Murrelet, and Cassin's Auklet) were found. Single Brown Pelicans were recorded in May and August.
BLo thanks the Wildlife Diversity Program of the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, whose support covered report distribution costs.
4-5 GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE lingered on the ground in the South Beach area near the Yaquina Bay Bridge on 1/26-30 (JG & TE; LMs).
The high count of BRANT was 209 at Yaquina Bay embayments on 1/5 (RB). 2-3 were noted along the YBSJ in water or onshore grazing on grass on 1/22-24 & 27 (WH; K&JF, UK; JG & TE), and 15 were along the YBSJ road in the "gull puddle" area on 1/25-26 (RL; JG & TE). RL notes: "Given the location of these birds and the date, I believe these may be migrants moving north through the area. The time is right for birds to be on the move." Brant winter at Yaquina Bay east of the Yaquina Bay Bridge at embayments; some often show up west of the Bridge in January and later.
On 12/21, at least 600 AMERICAN WIGEON were at Eckman Lake, and about 300 NORTHERN PINTAIL and 1,000+ wigeon were at Sally's Bend (KM). EURASIAN WIGEON were at Eckman Lake on 12/21 (KM), north Beaver Creek on 12/31 (LO), the 1/1 YCBC, and Yaquina Bay on 1/14 (DH; KC).
LO had 2 CINNAMON TEAL at north Beaver Creek on 12/31; they are rare in winter.
A REDHEAD was in Yaquina Bay downstream of Toledo for the 1/1 YCBC and during 1/9-14 (CP; JL; SH; DH).
HARLEQUIN DUCKS were widely appreciated.
After the YCBC, 1 BARROW'S GOLDENEYE graced the YBSJ on 1/3 (DH), and 2 were at Siletz Bay during 1/8-27 (DV; D&LF; JG & TE).
COMMON LOONS were calling at Sally's Bend at about 5 PM on 12/21 (KM), who wrote that "These were the classic, well-known loon call as on Prairie Home Companion." On 1/24 at 4:50 PM, WH found 42 Commons in 3 rafts near the YBSJ; they often aggregate in rafts near dusk in that area.
A RED-THROATED LOON swimming in a flooded pasture in the Bayview area near South Beaver Creek Road on 1/21 (WH; RL) was unexpected as they are typically in the ocean or lower estuaries.
A flock of 28 HORNED GREBES at the YBSJ on 1/19 (RL) could have been from storms driving birds into bays for shelter, but RB also has seen inactive flocks of them during low tides in Yaquina Bay.
The high count of BROWN PELICANS was 16 (a flock of 15 and a singleton) flying south past Seal Rocks on 1/1 (KM). After 1/1, we had 9 reports (6 of singletons), with a high count of 4 on 1/22 at Alsea Bay (RL) and with the latest on 1/23 (1 at Boiler Bay and Cape Foulweather) (PS & CK).
2 GREAT EGRETS lingered at Eckman Lake on 1/1 (DH), and 1-2 were at Siletz Bay on 1/12-28 (DV; TD; PS & CK; KH) and Beaver Creek on 1/13 (DH).
JL wrote on Feb. 1: "This January there was an exceptional run of coho salmon in the small streams around Hudson Loop [which is between Toledo and the town of Siletz]. PL counted over a hundred in a small stretch of one of our local streams, and a call to the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that this was a good run of spawning coho. Along Hudson Loop, a GREAT BLUE HERON and a RED-TAILED HAWK took advantage of the easy pickings, feeding on the fish or their remains after they spawned. Now the fish have mostly turned into stream nutrients, but a few carcasses remain, and a couple of reddish-purple fish are still alive in the stream below the house."
BALD EAGLES were often viewed, but TW noted some interesting behavior on 1/10, when he "saw a pair of eagles rising in a courting spiral over the Yaquina Bay bridge. Didn't see any actual mating take place (but, I also didn't want to crash on the bridge, so I lost track of them)."
[Image Not Included: Dawn Villaescusa's Jan. 12 photo of a pair of Bald Eagles at Siletz Bay. One is displaying with its head cocked backwards over its back. Since its bill is open, the displaying eagle may also have been vocalizing. A pair of BALD EAGLES in the air had caught her eye, and: "One of them landed on a branch, the other dipped around a bit then landed also -- all the while they were chattering to one another - the 2nd one who landed was facing the other, and flapped its wings a few times as it chattered. They then settled down, kind of inched toward one another until they were shoulder to shoulder, facing the bay." (For more, see http://dvillabirds.blogspot.com/2012/01/eagles-in-love.html.)]
Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys are a good relative index to the abundance of wintering raptors and are coordinated by the East Cascades Birds Observatory (http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73).
-----------------------------------------
Coast Route |Inland Route
12/ 1/ |11/ 12/ 1/
Raptor 17 * | 11 7 12
-----------------------------------------
N. Harrier 2 2 | 1 0 0
Wh-t. Kite 0 0 | 3 0 1
Sharp. Hawk 0 0 | 0 0 0
Coop. Hawk 1 0 | 0 0 0
unk. accipit. 0 0 | 0 1 0
R-shld. Hawk 1 1 | 0 0 0
R-tail. Hawk 6 8 | 11 9 17
B. Eagle ad. 5 8 | 5 0 2
" subadults 2 3 | 0 0 0
Am. Kestrel 0 0 | 1 2 2
Merlin 0 1 | 0 0 0
pos.Gyrfalcon 0 1* | 0 0 0
Peregrine F. 0 2 | 0 0 1
unk. raptor 0 0 | 0 0 0
RAPTOR SUM 17 26 | 21 12 23
The Lincoln Co. Raptor Coast Route is about 60 miles and runs along Hwy 101 from the north side of Alsea Bay to the Taft area of Lincoln City, with nearby inland valleys. It was completed in about 4.5 hrs on 12/17 by WN & RC, and 1/14-15 by WH, WN, & RC.
The Inland or Yaquina River-Siletz Raptor Route is about 65 miles long. It was done in about 4 hours on 11/11, 12/7, and 1/12 by CP & JL.
This month, BALD EAGLES continued to be the most abundant raptor along the Coast Route, and RED-TAILED HAWKS were most abundant along the Inland Route. Continuing the trend of the past, kestrels and kites were only found Inland, and Red-shouldered Hawks were only noted along the Coast.
On both routes, there was a big increase in raptor numbers and species between December and January. However, this increase may not represent a real increase in raptors. In December, observers were surprised by much sunnier weather than usual that may have been the reason for reduced numbers of raptors along both routes.
No OSPREY appeared during the YCBC or Raptor Routes, but a singleton visited Yachats on 1/8 (BB) and Idaho Flats on 1/14 (KC).
We also had other raptor reports besides on the Raptor Routes. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was found on the 1/1 YCBC near Toledo (KL), on 1/5 near Siletz (PK), and in the HMSC/Oregon Coast Aquarium area on 1/4, 25, & 30 (DM; JG; TS). Single AMERICAN KESTRELS were at Yaquina Head (1/14, DH), South Drift Creek near Lincoln City (1/26, DH), and at Siletz Bay (1/28, DV). A MERLIN was also noted at five coastal locations (WH; RB; TS), with the latest at South Beach State Park on 1/30 (TS). 1-2 PEREGRINE FALCONS were also reported during at least 6 days near the coastline (BO; BLo; DH; TD; TS).
Flocks of 10 or more BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS included 10 just south of the Yachats bridge at about noon on 1/23 (BB), 14 at Depoe Bay on 1/23 (PS & CK), and 17 at Depoe Bay on 1/27 (JG & TE).
The only WHIMBREL was a singleton on the rocks at Yaquina Head during the 1/1 YCBC (DV & others). In recent winters, a Whimbrel has been on rocks at the YBSJ. During spring and fall migration they are typically on sand beaches along the open coast or on mudflats in estuaries.
An elusive ROCK SANDPIPER was with other rockpipers at Seal Rocks on 12/31 & 1/2 (RL; JB) and YBSJ on 1/27 (JG & TE).
A GLAUCOUS GULL was at the YBSJ on 1/14 (KC).
We had several reports of PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, but none were yet in breeding plumage.
4 MARBLED MURRELETS were at Boiler Bay on 1/23 (PS & CK), and some were also with ANCIENT MURRELETS at Boiler Bay the weekend of 1/28-29 (DD).
The 11 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS found along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach were the most numerous beached species in Dec. (B&SLo, L&VO).
BAND-TAILED PIGEONS are uncommon in winter (SemiL, FN), but BB had one at her feeder in Yachats on 1/7.
The immature SNOWY OWL first reported in a sensitive area near houses at Siletz Bay on 12/13 (DV) was also noted 6 days in early January by at least 8 observers, with ME noting that it was gone some days. The last report was on 1/13 (SH). Not all observers watched the owl from a distance without disturbing it, since DF wrote on 1/1: "Unfortunately somebody with a camera or scope wasn't content to scope and/or take pictures from the forty yards across the lake. He walked between two houses (private property), and zoomed in on the owl from about fifteen yards away. Of course the bird flushed." RB's favorite views and photos of a Snowy Owl are those of a relaxed Snowy Owl, not one staring tensely at the observer or camera before it flushes because of the observer's or photographer's approach.
The only BARRED OWL was noted the last week of January at Seal Rock (MN fide BB).
The immature or female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD seen by L&JM east of Coquille Point on 1/1 is a first for the YCBC! LM noted: "We have never seen one this time of year here. I first wrote down seeing it on December 13, 2011, and have seen it daily up until today--1/5/2012. " It was still present through at least 1/18& 19.
[Image Not Included: Linda MacKown's photo of an immature or female Rufous Hummingbird at a feeder at L&JM's home east of Coquille Point during 12/13-1/19. It shows a Rufous' rust-colored sides and undertail coverts.]
A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was near Lincoln City on 12/31-1/1 (CM fide CW), in Newport during the 1/1 YCBC, and at Hudson Loop between Toledo and Siletz on 1/15 (JL).
GRAY JAYS were at the Salmon River on 1/4 (JP), and 4-6 continued at BB's suet feeders in Yachats on 1/7-17.
BUSHTITS can be elusive or overlooked, and our only report since the 1/1 YCBC was of a flock of about 8 at the HMSC on 1/17 (RL).
WESTERN BLUEBIRDS are showing up more this winter than usual. On 1/16, TD saw a flock of 12 flying along the southwest edge of Siletz Bay, and 3 were at Yaquina Head on 1/19&21 (TF fide DG; DH).
On 1/21, WH found a leucistic AMERICAN ROBIN at Bayshore near Waldport. WH wrote that it "was overall pigment-deficient, not white-blotched. Primaries and secondaries were very pale, nearly white. Rest of upperparts were pale tan. Underparts were near normal orange on flanks, but nearly white in a broad band from throat to vent." For more info about leucistic birds with white feathers, see http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/Albinism_Leucism.htm & http://birding.about.com/od/identifyingbirds/a/leucism.htm
Robins sometimes are in flocks here in winter, and PS & CK tallied 75 in a lawn along HWY 18 in north Lincoln County on 1/23.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER visiting a hummingbird feeder at FR's Depoe Bay home on 1/6 was our only one. A scattered few sometimes have been found in winter in recent years.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS seem to be less common this winter, or at least less commonly reported, but singletons were noted during 1/14-15 at Depoe Bay (KC), Wandemere near Ona Beach (RC), and Newport (DH).
WESTERN MEADOWLARKS eluded the 1/1 YCBC but were at the YBSJ on 1/3 (DH) and HMSC on 1/4 (JL); 3 graced Waldport on 1/7 & 15 (M&MR).
[Image Not Included: Carol Miley's Jan. 1 photo of a Red-breasted Sapsucker perched on the side of a tree in her orchard near Lincoln City (fide CW). Note the many sapsucker holes, some with visible reddish sap.
The Vermont Center for Ecostudies (http://vtecostudies.blogspot.com/2008/04/yellow-bellied-sapsucker-ecological.html) notes that sapsuckers can be considered a keystone species because "Like all woodpeckers, they excavate new nest cavities each year that subsequently are used by a wide variety of animals, from other birds to squirrels and spiders. Sapsuckers also drill sap wells from which other animals obtain nutritious sap, as well as the insects that are attracted to it. Hummingbirds, which are particularly reliant on sapsuckers, often nest near sap wells and have been observed following sapsuckers, presumably to locate sap wells." On the other hand, sapsuckers are also sometimes considered a pest that need to be controlled because they can damage trees (e.g., U.S. Forest Service Experiment Station publication "How to identify and control sapsucker injury on trees" (http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_sap/sap.htm).]
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Audubon Society of Lincoln City (http://www.lincolncityaudubon.org/), Betty Bahn,, Range Bayer, Birding Oregon (http://birdingoregon.info/), BirdNotes.net, Jeremy Breese, Ken Chamberlain, Rebecca Cheek, Dennis Deck, Tony DeFalco, Terry Edwards, Mark Elliott, eBird.org (location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for "All Observations" but available through "Bar Charts"), Karan & Jim Fairchild, Darrel & Laura Faxon, fide ("as reported by" someone other than the observer), Tim Fisher, John Gatchet, Dawn Grafe, Karen Halliday, Susan Hatlevig, Wayne Hoffman, Deb Holland, Penelope Kaczmarek, Carol Karlen, Ulo Kiigemagi, Karin, Janet & Phil Lamberson; Rick Leinen, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda & John MacKown, Laura Mason (LMs), Dave Mellinger, Kathy Merrifield, Carol Miley, m.ob. (multiple observers), Walt Nelson, Michael Noack, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Bob Olson, Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Chuck Philo, Jody Picconi, Fran Recht, Mike & Maggie Rivers, Trent Seager, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Paul Sullivan, Dawn Villaescusa, Tom Wainwright, Caren Willoughby, Yaquina Bay CBC (YCBC) on 1/1 compiled by DG, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://yaquina.info/ybn/).
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to site numbers in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park that includes Beaver Creek State Natural Area (http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_261.php), BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport (vehicle entrance fee, http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/yaquina/).
"One swallow does not make a spring, nor does one fine day"-Aristotle (384-322 BC). One of Aesop's Fables ("The young man [or spendthrift] and the swallow") also alludes to this.
This month there are several examples of 1 or a few birds of a migratory species that are here before their migration typically occurs. One could jump to the conclusion that these apparent "early birds" are signals of global warming, but the occurrence of many species is much more complicated than determining the "arrival" of a species by the first bird that is reported. In several migratory species, the "early birds" may be birds that did not migrate (e.g., partial migration, see http://www.nps.gov/akso/parkwise/students/referencelibrary/general/migrationbasics.htm) or others may be vagrants that linger or appear long before migration is evident.
The 4 GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE seen earlier this winter in the South Beach area continued until at least 2/1-3 (AF, SK, WeH; JL).
[Image Not Included: Roy Lowe's Jan. 25 photo of 7 of the 15 Brant in the "gull puddle" area on the YBSJ with gulls in the background. So, yes, Brant can sometimes be on upland areas and fairly close to people. The white arrows point to 2 first-year Brant with lighter colored backs and white wingbars that you may be able to see in this photo.]
BRANT normally winter along the Oregon Coast only at Tillamook, Netarts, and Yaquina Bays. Prior to February, the high count at Yaquina Bay embayments was 209, but in February, there were counts at all embayments (Idaho Flats, Sally's Bend, and South Bay [the embayment south across the channel from Sally's Bend]) of 409 on 2/4 and 437 on 2/16 that indicate a large influx; all were in 1-2 groups at the east side of Sally's Bend, an unusual winter site for them (RB). There were also counts of 260-280 on 2/3, 11 & 12 at one of the embayments (JL; HH; DR). WHo saw a sign of migration on 2/19, when a flock of 40-45 flew north over the Yaquina Bay North Jetty and kept going. The 2-4 Brant first reported on the ground at the "gull puddle" area of the YBSJ on 1/22 continued as they were noted there during 15 days between 2/1-26 by 17 observers! Our only report of Brant away from Yaquina Bay was at Alsea Bay on 2/27 (DHo); some often appear in spring migration there.
CACKLING GEESE were noted in the Devils Lake State Park area on 2/2 (DV), with 2 counted on 2/10 (BD, TJ).
JHo reported our first WOOD DUCK on 2/1 in the Toledo area, and 5-6 were also noted in the Fall Creek area of southeast Lincoln Co. on 2/19-20 (DHo; K&JL). It is unclear if any of these were spring migrants because Wood Ducks were first seen in most years in March, although they were found in a few years during December-February (SemiL).
1-3 EURASIAN WIGEON were at Yaquina Bay embayments during 2/3-10 (L&JM, RB; BD, TJ), and a hybrid Eurasian X American Wigeon was in the Toledo area on 2/26 (TY). KM's article, including drawings, about hybrid wigeon in western Oregon is at http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/wb/v24n02/p0105-p0107.pdf
1 bright-plumaged male CINNAMON TEAL and 4 others in female-type plumage were at Beaver Creek near the Grange site on 2/13 (LO), and a male was in Beaver Creek State Natural Area on 2/27 (EH).
There were 14 HARLEQUIN DUCK reports, with a high count of 9 (6 males and 3 females) at Yaquina Head on 2/1 (GF).
Courtship or aggressive displays and activity occur among wintering waterfowl. Some of the displays can be so subtle that one may wonder if a behavior is for self-maintenance or if it is a signal to others. On 1/30 at the YBSJ, KM saw many SURF SCOTERS, including 2 adult males that preened for several minutes. KM noted that the 2 males held their bills down, which stretched the back of their necks so that their white nape spots that only adult males have looked extra large. A display?
JGa had our only LONG-TAILED DUCK (1) at Sand Point Park (Devils Lake) on 2/24.
A male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was near the Yaquina Bay bridge during 2/3-5 (JL; D&AH; JS; PS & CK), and 3 males were at Siletz Bay on 2/10 (DV).
D&AH viewed 2 RED-NECKED GREBES in the YBSJ channel on 2/4 "that were beginning to show that telltale brick red color that gives meaning to (takes meaning from?) that species name."
A CLARK'S GREBE at Sally's Bend on 2/11 was our only one (HR & HH), and our first report of a PELAGIC CORMORANT with a white flank patch of breeding plumage was at the YBSJ on 2/3 (JL).
[Image Not Included: Roy Lowe's Jan. 21 photo of a first-year Red-throated Loon swimming over a flooded pasture near South Beaver Creek Road in the east Bayview Oxbow, north of Alsea Bay. This is an unexpected location as they are usually in estuaries or the ocean.]
February brought a smattering of reports of 1-2 BROWN PELICANS at Yaquina Head on 2/1 (SK), near Ona Beach on 2/6 (BLo), near Depoe Bay on 2/7 (DD), and at Boiler Bay on 2/8 (KC).
1-3 GREAT EGRETS were at Beaver Creek on 2/4 (JHa; DHo) and Siletz Bay on 2/10 & 12 (DV; DR).
Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys are a good relative index to the abundance of wintering raptors and are coordinated by the East Cascades Birds Observatory (http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73).
-----------------------------------------
Coast Route |Inland Route
12/ 1/ 2/ |11/ 12/ 1/ 2/
Raptor 17 * 11 | 11 7 12 7
-----------------------------------------
N. Harrier 2 2 1 | 1 0 0 1
Wh-t. Kite 0 0 0 | 3 0 1 3
Sharp. Hawk 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Coop. Hawk 1 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
unk. accipit. 0 0 0 | 0 1 0 0
R-shld. Hawk 1 1 2 | 0 0 0 1
R-tail. Hawk 6 8 9 | 11 9 17 12
B. Eagle ad. 5 8 12 | 5 0 2 3
" subadults 2 3 4 | 0 0 0 0
Am. Kestrel 0 0 2 | 1 2 2 2
Merlin 0 1 0 | 0 0 0 0
pos.Gyrfalcon 0 1* 0 | 0 0 0 0
Peregrine F. 0 2 2 | 0 0 1 0
unk. raptor 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
RAPTOR SUM 17 26 32 | 21 12 23 22
The Lincoln Co. Raptor Coast Route is about 60 miles and runs along Hwy 101 from the north side of Alsea Bay to the Taft area of Lincoln City, with nearby inland valleys. It was completed in about 4.5 hrs on 12/17 by WN & RC and on 1/14-15 and 2/11 by WHo, WN, and RC.
The Inland or Yaquina River-Siletz Raptor Route is about 65 miles long. It was done in about 4-5 hours on 11/11, 12/7, 1/12, and 2/7 by CP & JL.
This month, BALD EAGLES continued to be the most abundant raptor along the Coast Route, and RED-TAILED HAWKS were most abundant along the Inland Route. Continuing the trend of the past, kites were only found Inland. But breaking the past trend, kestrels were also found along the Coast and a Red-shouldered Hawk was also discovered inland. On 2/20, CP saw the first TURKEY VULTURE of the year over Toledo.
Most OSPREY migrate away, but singletons sometimes uncommonly appear in winter, and SJ reported one at Devils Lake on 2/6 that she thought had not migrated away; ME also saw it on 2/11. Migrants should start appearing in April.
Besides on Raptor Routes, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was at the HMSC on 2/4 & 9 (GF; DHo) and Beaver Creek on 2/4 (JHa), 1 AMERICAN KESTREL was noted on 2/11 near Eddyville (HH) and at Yaquina Head (DHo), and we had 8 other reports of PEREGRINE FALCONS.
On 2/16, DF saw a dark phase adult male ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK perched on a power pole about 0.1 of a mile east of the junction of Highway 20 and Fruitvale Road, about two miles east of Newport. As DF observes, they are "not reported every year, or even every other year" in Lincoln Co.
We had 4 reports of 9 or more BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS. 3 were at Depoe Bay: 18 on 2/5 (PS&CK), 28 (the high count this winter) on 2/10 (BD, TJ), and 18 during the 2/25 YBNFT that had horrible weather and birding otherwise (DD). 9 were also "on the south side of Central Seal Rock" on 2/19 (LO). All of these counts were at or near high tide. Oystercatcher researcher Elise Elliott-Smith (eelliott-smith@usgs.gov) is interested in concentrations of 10 or more along the Oregon Coast with the number, date, location, and time of observation, so that tidal conditions can be estimated. RB relays on Lincoln Co. reports.
A ROCK SANDPIPER was with other "rockpipers" at the YBSJ on 2/1 (AF, SK, WeH) and Depoe Bay on 2/5 & 9 (D&AH; DW). One was noted as being "one legged"; many birds, including herons, gulls, and shorebirds will stand on one leg while resting--this can be a way for them to conserve heat by tucking the other leg next to their body (e.g., http://birding.about.com/od/birdingbasics/a/howbirdskeepwarm.htm).
A dead GLAUCOUS GULL was found in mid-January long 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO), and a 1st winter one was alive at Alsea Bay on 2/5 (JHa, JL).
There were several reports of PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, but the first report for one in breeding plumage was by JL at the YBSJ on 2/23.
At Boiler Bay during 2/4-12, there were 1-2 MARBLED MURRELETS (GF; JL; JR; DR) and a maximum of 5 ANCIENT MURRELETS (GF; D&AH; PS&CK; JL; JR; HR & HH; DR). 2 Ancients were also at Depoe Bay on 2/5 (JGi).
COMMON MURRES landed on their nesting colonies at Yaquina Head on 2/17 (TF), but their on-colony attendance can be expected to be erratic this time of year.
CASSIN'S AUKLETS are uncommonly seen from shore, but a singleton was at Boiler Bay on 2/5 & 11-12 (PS&CK; HR & HH; DR).
In January along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO), there was an unusually high number of beached TUFTED PUFFINS (5) and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS (8). BLo's surveys began in 1978, and this is the first January with any Tufted Puffins. This January total ties the number in March 2007 and is the second highest monthly total behind March 1980 (10). The only other month with more than 1 Tufted Puffin was August 1991 (2). The 8 Rhinos is the 4th highest January total. In January, 1 dead beached Tufted Puffin was also found near Waldport (SaL & BB) and 3 live ones were brought to Oregon Coast Aquarium to be rehabbed (fide SF); in February, at least 4 dead beached ones were found at Yachats, Yaquina Head, and Lincoln City (SaL; TF; ME) and at least 1 HORNED PUFFIN was also found in early Feb. (ME).
Our only live puffin was a Tufted between the Yaquina Bay Bridge and the first rocky "finger" west of the Bridge on 2/25 (CP). They are very rare inside of Yaquina Bay, although male Surf Scoters have sometimes been misidentified as Tufted Puffins by inexperienced observers who are only familiar with puffins after seeing them at Oregon Coast Aquarium. CP noted that this puffin looked healthy and flew.
3 MOURNING DOVES were at Yachats on 2/11 (BB), and 8 were east of Sally's Bend on 2/16 (L&JM).
On 2/13, JL saw a BARN OWL fly across HWY 20 at about Milepost 4 east of Newport, and a BARRED OWL "was vigorously hooting away for about half an hour around 11 am at Thornton Creek" between Toledo and Eddyville on 2/16 (D&LF).
The wintering RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD remained at L&JM's home east of Sally's Bend in Feb. through at least 2/16. The first Rufous of the season appeared at Waldport on 2/11 (RL) and the next day north of Ona Beach (RC).
Single RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS were viewed at Hudson Loop between Toledo and Siletz on 1/31 (JL), Beaver Creek on 2/23 (DHo), and Eckman Lake on 2/27 (DHo).
BO saw a probable TROPICAL KINGBIRD about a block south of the Newport Fred Meyer store on 2/23. It was very unseasonal for a Tropical Kingbird (or any other kingbird). The first TREE SWALLOWS (10) were at Beaver Creek State Natural Area on 2/25 (LO) & 26 (EH), and the first VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (1) was there on 2/27 (EH). On 2/18, CP heard what sounded like the first CLIFF SWALLOWS in Toledo, but it is over a month too early for them; upon closer examination, he discovered that a EUROPEAN STARLING was mimicking the Cliff Swallows!
On 2/27 in South Beach, EH noted that BEWICK'S WRENS were "investigating their nest site in my garage again. For the last two years they have nested in a tool bag just inside the door."
EH had our only WESTERN BLUEBIRD on 2/27 that was "flycatching from a low snag in a big clearcut at 11.5 miles up North Beaver Creek Road."
1 CEDAR WAXWING was in Cutler City (Lincoln City) on 2/12 (DR), 16 visited the HMSC on 2/24 (JGa), and 20 were at Yachats on 2/25 (VT). They are occasional winter and early spring vagrants; their migration is noticeable in May (SemiL).
A few scattered ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS have been showing up in winter in recent years, and 1 was at the HMSC on 2/4 (GF), about a month and a half before spring migrants usually start appearing.
On 2/19 at the HMSC, EH had our only PALM WARBLER, and our only WESTERN MEADOWLARKS (3) were at the HMSC on 2/10 (BD, TJ).
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Birding Oregon (http://birdingoregon.info/), BirdNotes.net, Ken Chamberlain, Rebecca Cheek, Dick Demarest, Barbara Dolan, eBird.org (location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for "All Observations" but available through "Bar Charts"), Mark Elliott, Andrew Farnsworth, Darrel & Laura Faxon, Sharnelle Fee, fide ("as reported by" someone other than the observer), Garvin Filbert, Tim Fisher, Gary Fredricks, John Gatchet (JGa), Jeff Gilligan (JGi), Jeff Harding (JHa). Hendrik Herlyn, Dan & Anne Heyerly, Wesley Hochachka (WeH), Wayne Hoffman (WHo), Deb Holland (DHo), Eric Horvath, Jon Howry (JHo), Sherry Jensen, Tim Johnson, Carol Karlen, Steve Kelling, Janet & Karin Lamberson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda & John MacKown, Kathy Merrifield, Walt Nelson, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Bob Olson, Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Chuck Philo, John Rakestraw, Holly Reinhard, Douglas Robinson, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Joline Shroyer, Paul Sullivan, Vjera Thompson, Dawn Villaescusa, Dave Westerfield, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://yaquina.info/ybn/) Field Trip (YBNFT) led by DD, Taylor Yeager.
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to site numbers in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park that includes Beaver Creek State Natural Area (http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_261.php), BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, SALMON RIVER ESTUARY (#44 and 45): estuary at north end of Lincoln Co.; the mouth is in Tillamook Co., WANDEMERE: about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach State Park near HWY 101, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport (vehicle entrance fee, http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/yaquina/).
In Mid-March, DF observed a flock of about 100 GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at Gorton Road pastures south of Lincoln City and wrote "I can't remember ever previously seeing that many white-fronts on the ground in Lincoln County at any time, much less in March." Our only other report was of 11 at Beaver Creek on 3/24 (DH).
2 BLACK BRANT on the ground at the YBSJ lingered until at least 3/4 (WH; LO). At embayments of Yaquina Bay, 181-187 were noted on 3/2 & 4 (JL; RB), and 260-280 were present on 3/24 & 28 (RB; CP). West of the Yaquina Bay Bridge on 3/3, there was a flock of 82 at 10 AM (WH) and 137 at 5:30 (LO); clearly some movement has been going on.
On 3/11, RC noted a "V" of about 100 small geese flying north past Ona Beach "beyond the surf zone and maybe 300 ft up"-- they may have been ALEUTIAN CACKLING GEESE. Cackling Goose reports included 75 (perhaps flybys?) at the YBSJ (where they are rare on the ground or water) on 3/9 (JB), 2 at south Siletz Bay on 3/15 (BY), and 7 at Beaver Creek on 3/24 (DH).
1-2 EURASIAN WIGEON graced Beaver Creek during 3/2-24 (DH; JL) and Sally's Bend on 3/11 (DH).
The male CINNAMON TEAL at Beaver Creek remained during 2/29-3/3 (LO; JL), and 1-2 BARROW'S GOLDENEYES were at the YBSJ on 3/2-16 (JL; EC; DV; DH; BLl; JB).
RJ watched a WILD TURKEY east of Toledo on 3/26. The ODFW has released them in eastern Lincoln Co. and has a Management Plan with info about them at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/management_plans/wild_turkey/
RM spotted 2 live BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES and 10 NORTHERN FULMARS offshore on 3/6. 5 dead fulmars were tallied in February along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO).
We had no BROWN PELICAN reports after 2/8 until 3/13, when RC detected 2 flying by Wandemere and noted "Odd to see pelicans and snow in the same view!" 1-3 were often recorded through 3/24 (CW; DV; DH; JL; WH; and others), with a report of 60 at Seal Rocks on 3/23 (DL).
GREAT BLUE HERONS aggregate and sometimes display in spring. MR wrote on 3/14 "it is that time of year again! The herons are strutting their stuff in Lint Slough, 20 to 30 at a time at low tide, out from the Waldport high school."
1 GREAT EGRET lingered at Beaver Creek on 4 days during 3/2-24 (DH; JL), another was at Otis in northeast Lincoln County on 3/10 (JL), and 1 was also east of Toledo on 3/26 (RJ).
Oregon Winter Raptor Surveys are a good relative index to the abundance of wintering raptors and are coordinated by the East Cascades Birds Observatory (http://www.ecbcbirds.org/Default.aspx?tabid=73). In Lincoln Co., the Coast Route is about 60 miles and runs along Hwy 101 from the north side of Alsea Bay to the Taft area of Lincoln City, with nearby inland valleys. It was completed in about 4.5 hrs on 12/17 by WN & RC and on 1/14-15 and 2/11 by WH, WN, and RC. The Inland or Yaquina River-Siletz Raptor Route is about 65 miles long. It was done in about 4-5 hours on 11/11, 12/7, 1/12, and 2/7 by CP & JL; and on 3/24 by JL & WH.
This winter, RED-TAILED HAWKS and BALD EAGLES were the most frequent and numerous raptors, with harriers and falcons tending to be more frequent in the coast route and WHITE-TAILED KITES and AMERICAN KESTRELS tending to be more common for the inland route.
The inland Raptor Route did not find any kites this month (JL & WH), and JL wondered "if the recent storms have affected the kites' ability to find prey in the wet pastures." BLl also noted that kites that had been in the Logsden area during the winter had been absent in March.
There were also raptor reports other than for the Raptor Route. A TURKEY VULTURE arrived last month but they have been spotty in occurrence, so they were being reported for the first time through most of the month at various sites. The first concentration was a kettle of 12 over Toledo at 4:30 PM on 3/22 (JL); a kettle refers to a flock of birds wheeling and circling in the air (for discussion and photos of portions of hawk kettles, see http://www.ccbirding.com/thw/id/kettlecount.htm).
DH recorded the first OSPREY (2) at Eckman Lake on 3/19, and the next were noted on 3/24 at Toledo (JL & WH; CP) and Newport (RB).
Single RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were identified at Lincoln City on 3/3 (ER), at the HMSC on 3/2-3 & 3/17 YBNFT (PO; DV; RB), and at Salmon River on 3/9 (JB).
There were no reports of MERLINS, and, other than the Raptor Route, our only AMERICAN KESTREL was at Cutler City (Lincoln City) on 3/3 (EC). But we had many (9) reports of 1-2 PEREGRINE FALCONS, including 1 perched in a tree by Sea Towne in Newport that appeared to be enjoying the warmth of the sun in on 3/7 (PK). On 2/28, BLl watched as a Peregrine flew through, circled, and scared up a flock of dowitchers and 1 Western Sandpiper at Eckman Lake, and the Peregrine caught one of the shorebirds and flew over BLl's head with it in its talons!
-----------------------------------------
Coast Route|Inland Route
12/ 1/ 2/ |11/ 12/ 1/ 2/ 3/
Raptor 17 * 11 | 11 7 12 7 24
----------------------------------------
Osprey 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0 1
Wh-t. Kite 0 0 0 | 3 0 1 3 0
B. Eagle ad. 5 8 12 | 5 0 2 3 4
" subadults 2 3 4 | 0 0 0 0 2
N. Harrier 2 2 1 | 1 0 0 1 0
Sharp. Hawk 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0 0
Coop. Hawk 1 0 0 | 0 0 0 0 0
unk. accipit. 0 0 0 | 0 1 0 0 0
R-shld. Hawk 1 1 2 | 0 0 0 1 0
R-tail. Hawk 6 8 9 | 11 9 17 12 7
Am. Kestrel 0 0 2 | 1 2 2 2 1
Merlin 0 1 0 | 0 0 0 0 0
pos.Gyrfalcon 0 1* 0 | 0 0 0 0 0
Peregrine F. 0 2 2 | 0 0 1 0 0
unk. raptor 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0 0
RAPTOR SUM 17 26 32 | 21 12 23 22 15
* January Coastal Route done on 1/14 & 15 because of deteriorating weather on 1/14. On 1/14, WH had a brief glimpse of a possible adult male gray phase Gyrfalcon in the Bayview area north of Alsea Bay.
[Image Not Included: Ernie Rose's 3/3 photo of a Wilson's Snipe near Lincoln City.]
CT had our only ROCK SANDPIPER (1) at Seal Rocks on 3/9.
RED PHALAROPES are normally not present onshore in winter, but big wind storms can blow some onshore. The phalaropes' misfortune can seem to be fortune to predators. On 3/13, WH saw at least 6 Red Phalaropes feeding on small puddles and two larger temporary pools at the YBSJ, and WH noted that 1 was "surprisingly partially molted into breeding plumage, with speckled red underparts and a black-speckled cap." WH added "I watched several predation attempts on the phalaropes. Several attacks by crows were easily avoided. One California Gull made a rush, on the ground at a phalarope, which flew to avoid it. Two peregrines appeared together and made at least 4 high-speed swoops, but the phalaropes were able to jag sideways and avoid them. The peregrines then headed south to harass a harrier. Later the harrier made 3 swoops and chases of the phalaropes, all unsuccessful. Other times I have seen very debilitated phalaropes onshore, and I suspect that crows have experience with picking off those." On 3/15, BY saw 4 at south Siletz Bay and noted "I got a very good look at these birds as they were very close to the edge of the bay and were completely unafraid of me. I watched them for about 15 minutes - beautiful birds in winter plumage. It was extremely windy the day and night before - presumably these birds blew in from the ocean." Other phalaropes were noted at Devils Lake on 3/14 (ME) and Yaquina Bay on 3/15-16 (GT; R&MT; JL; DH). During a 3/17 Boiler Bay seawatch, WH counted 8 in a half hour.
RM surveyed 350 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES offshore on 3/6, and WH noted 8 during a half hour Boiler Bay seawatch on 3/17.
Our only murrelets were 3 MARBLED MURRELETS at Boiler Bay on 3/3 (EC), and 1 west of the Yaquina Bay Bridge in mid-channel on 3/15 (R&MT).
Dead alcids included 3 CASSIN'S AUKLETS and an extremely high number of 13 TUFTED PUFFINS, 7 HORNED PUFFINS, and 105 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS beached in February along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). As noted in the last newsletter, January was also extraordinarily high for Tufteds and Rhinos. The totals for just January-February for Tufteds (15) and Rhinos (113) are more than in any other whole year since these surveys began in 1978, with the previous high yearly total for Tufteds of 11 in 1980 and for Rhinos of 96 in 1990. The Horned Puffins in February are the most ever found in February.
Beached Tufteds and Rhinos continued into March. On 3/3, CJM of Oregon Coast Aquarium received reports of 6 dead (north of Nye Beach in Newport) and 3 live Tufteds; 2 of the live ones were brought in and "were severely underweight and died within 24 hrs," which suggests that the cause of death was not some sudden trauma. On 3/3, SaL & BB did their CoastWatch beach walk and found 6 Tufteds and 5 Rhinos. Also on 3/3, MB (fide JW) found 9 dead puffins not identified to species at Seal Rocks. During 3/2-6, TM (fide CL) walked 3 different beaches in the Newport area and found the following totals: 17 Tufteds, 1 Horned, 45 Rhinos, 1 Cassin's, 2 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, and 2 COMMON MURRES.
None of the reports indicated that any of the alcids were oiled, so oiling also does not appear to be the cause of death.
There were no reports of live puffins other than the moribund, beached ones. Offshore, RM saw 3 live Cassin's Auklets on 3/6.
BAND-TAILED PIGEONS are erratically here in winter before April (SemiL). The only report this month was at Wandemere, where RC saw the first one on 3/20, and 2 visited the feeder on 3/23.
MOURNING DOVES continued with a high count of 20 at a feeder in Waldport on about 3/1 (fide RL). At L&JM's feeders east of Sally's Bend, they have been regulars this month with 8 on 3/15, and 2 were east of Toledo on 3/26 (RJ).
AW had a fleeting glimpse of a SNOWY OWL being mobbed by 2 American Crows flying over the HMSC on 3/1. In 1974, we had one until April 12 (SemiL).
[Image Not Included: Jack Doyle's photo of a Snowy Owl educational sign on 3/25 in Washington near Gray's Harbor, where several Snowy Owls have been this winter. The wood post is fresh and untreated, so this sign is not old or permanently placed. In Lincoln County, permanent signs would not be practical as Snowy Owls are not here most years, but a temporary sign like this could be temporarily placed near where one is to help more people see and appreciate a Snowy by educating them to keep a distance. If nothing else, the sign is refreshing because it shows that at least someone cares about the well-being of the owls rather than just in how close they can get for their photographs or curiosity. A similar sign for keeping at least 50 ft away from a Burrowing Owl found in Lincoln County might also be helpful to reduce disturbance, so more people could see one here when they rarely appear. 2 images not included; the wording from top to bottom:
Snowy Owl Zone
Please do not disturb them.
Stay at least 150 feet away.
Their health depends on it.
If the owl flies off, you are too close!
Thank you!]
A BARRED OWL was heard on 3/3 at north Beaver Creek (LO) and 3/7 at Thornton Creek between Toledo and Eddyville (DF).
On 3/24, DH discovered a SAY'S PHOEBE at north Beaver Creek. Although still uncommon to rare, they have become slightly less so in recent years. Prior to 1993, we only had 3 records (SemiL), but since 2000, they were reported during Feb-April in 2001, 2006, and with this report, there was just 1 sighting each year during 2009-2012 (FN).
WH found a TROPICAL KINGBIRD at the south end of the HMSC campus on 3/4. It is very unseasonal to see any kingbird here in winter, but one was reported in the same area during the Jan. 1 YCBC and also in February in Newport.
TREE SWALLOWS and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS may be confused by this strange weather, so that they appear and then go. On 3/3 at Beaver Creek, LO noted that "swallows were on the power lines in the morning but gone from the valley by mid-day." On 3/4 at Logsden, BLl was cleaning out and putting up swallow boxes, and 5-6 swallows (Violet-green or Tree) landed on a swallow box just after he put it up. On 3/8 at Wandemere, RC wrote "Just now there are 4 Tree Swallows swooping around over our place. This is 10-12 days early for our location - probably related to the sunny spring-like weather today." On 3/23 at Thornton Creek, DF noted "I can see why the ancients thought swallows dived into the mud during inclement weather. A pair of Violet-greens showed up here March 11. Over the next ten days it snowed five times, the latest yesterday. On the upper levels of the farm, the snow is still almost four inches deep in spots. Here in the valley it is mostly melted, and the sun is shining in a blue sky. Almost as if by magic there are at least six swallows circling over the pond, some of both Violet-green and Tree species. You just wonder where they really do go." No other swallow species were noticed.
M&BLl detected our only WESTERN BLUEBIRDS--2 males & 1 female on 3/18 at Logsden. VARIED THRUSHES and AMERICAN ROBINS were singing at Hudson Loop between Toledo and Siletz in mid-March (JL).
A leucistic DARK-EYED JUNCO with a mostly white head was photographed at Cascade Head (Tillamook Co.) on 3/10 (JD).
Some WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS winter near the coast, but there is often an influx of migrants appearing in late March. This year, BLl saw the first of the season at Logsden on 3/24.
RC found a first-of-spring and our only BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD at Wandemere on 3/23; they typically arrive in April (SemiL, FN).
3 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS at the YBSJ on 3/3 were being chased by an accipiter (DV), and 1-4 were at the HMSC on 3/3& 9 (EC; JB; CT).
Our only AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES were found by a group of 30 birders who identified 1-2 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES in Toledo on 3/8-9 (eBird). CP viewed a LESSER GOLDFINCH on 3/26 at his Toledo feeder; this is about a week early (SemiL).
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Mel Beery, Birding Oregon (http://birdingoregon.info/), BirdNotes.net, Joe Blowers, Eric Carlson, Rebecca Cheek, Jack Doyle, http://eBird.org (location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for "All Observations" but available through "Bar Charts"), Mark Elliott, Darrel Faxon (see some of DF's bird records and his articles at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#thornton_creek), fide ("as reported by" someone other than the observer), Wayne Hoffman, Deb Holland, Rodger Johnson, Penelope Kaczmarek, Janet Lamberson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Drew Lindow, Cindy Lippincott, Martha & Bob Llewellyn (M&BLl), Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, Linda & John MacKown, CJ McCarty (CJM), Terry McEneaney, Ryan Merrill, Walt Nelson, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Pam Otley, Chuck Philo, Maggie Rivers, Ernie Rose, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Robin & Mark Tilton, Glory Truax, Craig Tumer, Dawn Villaescusa, Anne Walker, Jean Weakland, Conrad Willett, Yaquina Bay CBC (YCBC) compiled by DG, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://yaquina.info/ybn/) Field Trip (YBNFT) led by RB, Brendon Yoder.
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to site numbers in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park that includes Beaver Creek State Natural Area (http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_261.php), BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, ROAD'S END STATE RECREATION SITE (#46): north of Lincoln City, SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, SALMON RIVER ESTUARY (#44 and 45): estuary at north end of Lincoln Co.; the mouth is in Tillamook Co., SPANISH HEAD: pullout north of Inn at Spanish Head at 4009 SW Highway 101 in Lincoln City, USFWS: US Fish & Wildlife Service, WANDEMERE: about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach State Park near HWY 101, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport (vehicle entrance fee, http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/yaquina/).
The northerly migration of GR. WHITE-FRONTED GEESE was first reported on 4/24 at Boiler Bay (PP), and continued through the end of the month (LO; CP; PP), with 940 passing in 5 minutes over Newport on 4/30 (WH).
A massive flight of skeins and V's of hundreds of CACKLING GEESE passed along the Newport coastline in the early afternoon of 4/16 (RB). Many, if not all, were probably Aleutians. This appears to have been the end of their migratory flights that started in early March.
BRANT were also on the move during seawatches at Boiler Bay or Yaquina Head on 4/7 & 24 (WH; PP). High counts were 266 and 246 east of the Yaquina Bay Bridge at intertidal embayments, where Brant overwintered, on 4/7& 21, respectively (RB). On 4/28, only 4 were at Yaquina Bay embayments, but 208 were west of the Bridge near the Rock Shelf at the north end (RB).
2 WESTERN CANADA GEESE arrived at Idaho Flats on 4/5 (JL) and were also seen on 4/21 (RB) but were not visible on 4/28 (RB). It's their breeding season, and a pair had a nest at South Siletz Bay on 4/21 (DV).
The CINNAMON TEAL at Beaver Creek increased to 2 pairs on 4/1 (LO), but none were found thereafter.
2-3 BARROW'S GOLDENEYES continued at Siletz Bay on 3/31 & 4/1 (DV; KC) and a singleton lingered at Yaquina Bay during 3/30-4/16 (JS; PO; DH).
We had many HARLEQUIN DUCK reports, with a high count of 7 on 4/27 at the YBSJ (JL).
On 4/16 at Wandemere, RC wrote "Shortly before 2 PM I witnessed a spectacular northward flight of BRANDT'S CORMORANTS past our place. The birds were flying in a continuous undulating single file that was bunched up into loose groups here and there. We have a north-to-south view of about a half-mile swath of ocean, and I could not see either end of the line for about a minute until the tail end finally appeared. The entire line was easily a mile long. I was too astonished to even think about estimating numbers -- maybe some of the experienced pelagic counters could hazard a guess at numbers. I was able to reach RB, and he saw the flight as it passed the Yaquina Bay jetties...." But not all of their flights were northward; PP noted that 130-400 were flying south or mostly south during Boiler Bay and Spanish Head seawatches on 4/11, 24, 26, & 28.
Northward loon migration was visible during Boiler Bay and Spanish Head seawatches in April (PP; WH) with a peak count of 23,000+ PACIFIC LOONS and 3,000+ RED-THROATED LOONS on 4/24 and 50 COMMON LOONS on 4/30 (PP). In other seawatches, Pacifics also predominated with Red-throateds second most.
A few SOOTY SHEARWATERS were noted at Boiler Bay on 4/24, and there were 2,000+ during the 4/28 seawatch at Spanish Head, when a PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER also appeared (PP).
An offshore cruise ship on 4/17 found 3 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES, 1 rare MURPHY'S PETREL, and a FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL (JW & others).
Prior to 1988, BROWN PELICANS were rare in April (SemiL), but they have since become April regulars. This April, we had at least 15 reports (m.ob.), with 1-9 pelicans prior to 4/14, and numbers increasing thereafter with a high count of 300 during PP's Spanish Head seawatch on 4/30.
2 MOUNTAIN QUAIL visited north Beaver Creek on 4/5 (LO).
1-2 GREAT EGRETS that have been at Beaver Creek this winter continued through 4/12-22 (DH; LO). They have been absent since last fall in lower Yaquina Bay, but 1 appeared at Idaho Flats on 4/19 (NC) and 4 were at Sally's Bend or King Slough to the south on 4/21 (NC; RB). However, they may have only been passing through because they were gone from lower Yaquina Bay on 4/28 (RB).
WHITE-TAILED KITES were not reported in March, but SH found 1 between Siletz & Logsden on 4/29.
We had many reports of BALD EAGLES and PEREGRINE FALCONS but only 2 of a MERLIN on 4/4 at Road's End (ME) and on 4/20 at Yaquina Bay State Park (TC). We had no kestrel sightings.
[Image Not Included: Dawn Villaescusa's photo on 3/30 of an adult BALD EAGLE floating in the water at South Siletz Bay from http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/villaesc/Birds/?action=view¤t=IMG_0875_1.jpg Dawn wrote in eBird: "Pair, one landed in water and appeared to 'swim' for awhile; did this 3 times, never came out with anything (fish or otherwise)." With or without prey, Bald Eagles can float on the water and use their wings to paddle to shore (e.g., "Bald Eagle swims to shore with Canada Goose" at Fraser River [British Columbia] at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws4X3aae9LM or do Internet search for "Bald Eagle swim").]
WHIMBRELS were often noted along the coast and in estuaries.
We had only 4 reports of 1-2 MARBLED GODWITS during 3/24 to 4/30, with JL's record for Beverly Beach north of Newport the only one not in Yaquina Bay (RBO; DG; DH). Probably the most seen godwit was the one during USFWS's Shorebird Sister Schools Program (SSSP) field trip for 4th & 5th graders on 4/30 at Idaho Flats (DG).
PP discovered 4-32 RED KNOTS during his Boiler Bay and Spanish Head seawatches on 4/29 & 30.
The peak numbers of shorebird migration usually occur the last week of April or first week of May, with peeps (small shorebirds such as WESTERN SANDPIPERS and LEAST SANDPIPERS that can be hard to distinguish when moving) being the most numerous by far. Although some were present before, the first report of a thousand or more was during a 4/24 Boiler Bay seawatch with 2,000+ passing during 1.75 hr (PP). During a 1.25 hr seawatch at Boiler Bay on 4/29 and a 2.0 hr seawatch at Spanish Head on 4/30, PP tallied a total of 6,000+ and 25,000+, respectively. PP notes that almost all were Westerns with a small percentage of Leasts. During the 4/30 SSSP field trip, DG wrote that there were "thousands of shorebirds feeding in the Yaquina Estuary this morning. The dominate species being Western Sandpiper ..."
The only counts for other species with 50 or more shorebirds was for PP's 4/30 seawatches at Spanish Head with 180 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 70 WHIMBRELS, 200+ DUNLIN, and 800 DOWITCHER sp.
Many live RED PHALAROPES arrived last month after the storms, and 1 was found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach in March (B&SLo, L&VO). A few continued until 4/10 at the HMSC, South Beach State Park, and as far inland as Beaver Creek State Natural Area (m.ob.).
2 observers reported RED-NECKED PHALAROPES with the Red Phalaropes in early April but that is early for them, and they may have been misidentified. PP had 8+ RED-NECKED PHALAROPES on 4/30 at Boiler Bay, which is about when they are usually first reported from shore.
3 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were found dead in March along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). We had no reports of live ones in April.
On 3/30, DH & JS watched an early, uncommon SABINE'S GULL in breeding plumage that was standing in water in the "Gull Puddle" area along the YBSJ (which is near the largest turnout adjacent to the channel). DH's description: "Small gull, dark legs, black hood with even blacker border. Dark bill with bright yellow tip. The bird flew from one puddle to another." JS noted that about 2/3 of the bill was black and about the outer 1/3 bill tip was yellow.
ME found our only BONAPARTE'S GULL in nonbreeding plumage at Roads End on 4/7.
Our first CASPIAN TERN visited Yachats and Newport on 4/6 (DP; RB). The high count was 270 flying steadily north during a 7-8 AM seawatch at Spanish Head on 4/11 (PP).
2 LONG-TAILED JAEGERS were espied from a cruise ship on 4/17 (JW & others).
March continued the January-February trend of an extraordinarily high number of beached alcids along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach with 11 TUFTED PUFFINS, 3 HORNED PUFFINS, 1 PARAKEET AUKLET, 48 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS (B&SLo, L&VO). The Tufted Puffin and Rhino totals are higher than for any previous year starting in 1978. The Horned Puffin total is the 2nd highest year behind 2007.
MARBLED MURRELETS were regularly found, with a high count of 16 at Boiler Bay on 4/24 (PP).
WH estimated 31-33 thousand COMMON MURRES on the water near Colony Rock, west of the Yaquina Head lighthouse during 3 surveys on 4/7.
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES continue their range expansion. In 2006, RC & WN photographed Lincoln County's first during 5/1-13 at their Wandemere home (FN). Thereafter, we only had a smattering of records until March 2009, when we commenced having records each month (FN). This year, BB had the first-ever at her Yachats home on 4/7. On 4/9, RC wrote: "Today there are TEN! Eurasian Collared-Doves picking up seed from the ground. Every year there are more of them." RC's was the high count for the month, though JL found 7 at CP's Toledo feeder on 4/27. On 4/21, RB was walking near his home in southwest Newport where collared-doves first arrived last spring and saw a crow flying after a collared-dove; they landed in some pine trees. As they flew in, the crow pulled out some of the collared-dove's feathers. After 2-3 minutes, the collared-dove flew out and the crow resumed the chase. Since collared-doves have become established near RB's home, he has noticed that ROCK PIGEONS have become scarce there.
1-2 MOURNING DOVES were at Beaver Creek on 4/5, 13, & 21 (DH; LO), and JL heard a BARRED OWL on 4/19-20 at Hudson Loop between Toledo and Siletz.
On 4/26, RL saw a male YELLOW-SHAFTED NORTHERN FLICKER outside his office at the HMSC, which is the first reported this year.
Spring is the time for the arrival of many migrants, and our first reports include: COMMON YELLOWTHROAT at Beaver Creek on 4/4 (LO), WILSON'S WARBLER on 4/5 at Toledo (RJ & group of 30) & Beaver Creek (DH), BARN SWALLOW and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH on 4/5 at Beaver Creek (DH), ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER between Newport and Toledo on 4/8 (CP), PURPLE FINCH on 4/8 at Wandemere (RC & WN), NO. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW in a beach bank by Wandemere on 4/9 (BLo), BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER at Yachats on 4/9 (DF), CLIFF SWALLOW at Beaver Creek on 4/13 (LO), PURPLE MARTIN at Siletz Bay on 4/14 (ME), OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER on Table Mt. (which is northeast of Waldport) on 4/22 (CP), YELLOW WARBLER at Beaver Creek on 4/22 (DH), BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK in Newport on 4/26 (DH), WESTERN KINGBIRD at Eckman Lake on 4/28 (RL), and VAUX'S SWIFT at Toledo on 4/29-30 (CP; DG).
A PACIFIC WREN serenaded the 4/21 YBNFT on the trail to the Giant Spruce at Cape Perpetua (SaL).
Some SAVANNAH SPARROWS overwinter, but there was a pulse of them in middle April, and many were noted near the coastline. More surprisingly, they also showed up inland at CP's Toledo feeder, where they are rare on 4/17-18 and on clearcuts on the north side of Table Mountain on 4/22 (CP).
Single WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were at the HMSC on 4/2 (PO), between Siletz & Logsden on 4/3 (SH), and Newport on 4/12 (DH). During 4/24-28, CP had one in breeding-plumage (white-stripe form) at his Toledo feeder that WH photographed.
CP had our first EVENING GROSBEAK in Toledo on 4/2, but they were scattered and they first showed at many places sporadically throughout the rest of the month, including in South Beach on 4/16 (AW).
[Image Not Included: Jack Doyle's photo of a Spotted Sandpiper in breeding plumage on 4/24 along the Salmon River. Yes, Spotted Sandpipers really are spotted, but only in breeding plumage!]
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Birding Oregon (http://birdingoregon.info/), http://BirdNotes.net, Ken Chamberlain, Rebecca Cheek, Neal Coenen, Tom Crabtree, http://eBird.org (location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for "All Observations" but available through "Bar Charts"), Mark Elliott, Daniel Farrar, Dawn Grafe, Wayne Hoffman, Deb Holland, Signe Hurd, Rodger Johnson, Janet Lamberson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Sally Lockyear (SaL), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Roy Lowe, m.ob. (multiple observers), Walt Nelson, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Rachael Bourdet Oehler (RBO), Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Pamela Otley, Diane Pettey, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Joline Shroyer, Dawn Villaescusa, Anne Walker, Jay Withgott, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://yaquina.info/ybn/) Field Trip (YBNFT) led by SaL.
Abbreviations, terms, and some Lincoln Co. site locations (numbers refer to site numbers in the Oregon Coast Birding Trail Guide http://www.oregoncoastbirding.com/): BEACHSIDE STATE PARK: park between Waldport and Yachats along HWY 101, BEAVER CREEK (#78, in part): creek flowing through Ona Beach State Park that includes Beaver Creek State Natural Area (http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_261.php), BOILER BAY STATE WAYSIDE (#59): about 0.5 mi north of Depoe Bay, ECKMAN LAKE (#84): lake 2 mi east of Waldport along HWY 34, HMSC (#75): OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, IDAHO FLATS: large embayment just east of the HMSC, LNG TANK: large green Liquefied Natural Gas tank on the north side of Yaquina Bay about 1.5 miles east of Yaquina Bay Bridge, ONA BEACH (#77): State Park about 6.6 mi south of Yaquina Bay bridge along HWY 101 at Beaver Creek, SALLY'S BEND (#66): large Yaquina Bay embayment east of the LNG tank, SALMON RIVER ESTUARY (#44 and 45): estuary at north end of Lincoln Co.; the mouth is in Tillamook Co., WANDEMERE: about 0.5 mi north of Ona Beach State Park near HWY 101, YBSJ (#71): Yaquina Bay South Jetty, YAQUINA HEAD OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREA (#65): headland north of Newport (vehicle entrance fee, http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/yaquina/).
Migrating GR. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE flocks continued into May during the 5/5 Bird Guide Pelagic Trip (BGPT [GG]) and at Newport on 5/13 (WH). 1-3 also lingered sporadically on the ground with the latest on 5/21 (3) at Idaho Flats (CP).
BRANT decreased with a high of 79-130 passing Boiler Bay on 5/1-8 (PP) and not more than 7 thereafter. The latest (4) were at Yachats on 5/20 (JW & others). Some nonbreeders are occasionally here in summer.
On 5/7, RL wrote: "I'm seeing groups of WESTERN CANADA GEESE bunching up which means their northward molting migration is not far away." The next day, RB saw 2 flying northward over Newport, and the first larger flocks were reported on 5/12 during the International Migratory Bird Day YBNFT at Yaquina Head (RB) and North American Migration Count (NAMC) (DV). The largest flock was 47 on 5/29 (DD), and many observers noted flocks, with several latest reports on 5/30 (BB; DV; WN; RB). In some years, flights have been noted into early June.
Last dates include: GREEN-WINGED TEAL at Boiler Bay on 5/4 (PP), AMERICAN WIGEON at Boiler Bay on 5/9 (PP), CINNAMON TEAL and NORTHERN PINTAIL at Boiler Bay on 5/14 (PP), and a BLUE-WINGED TEAL at Beaver Creek on 5/24 & 28 (LO; DH).
HARLEQUIN DUCKS were noted regularly with a high count of 9 at the YBSJ on 5/6 (BW).
Single YELLOW-BILLED LOONS in nonbreeding plumage were seen 3.5 miles off Newport during the 5/5 BGPT (GG) and near Sally's Bend on 5/12 (WH).
Northward loon migration persisted into May. During 10 Boiler Bay seawatches (5/1-16), PP tallied 300-8,000+ PACIFIC LOONS, 20-300+ RED-THROATED LOONS, and 2-300 COMMON LOONS. Pacifics greatly outnumbered the other loons each seawatch, and Red-throateds outnumbered Commons during all but the 5/8 seawatch when there was 300 of each (PP). In past years, Pacifics have also been seen flying north in June.
1 CLARK'S GREBE was in Yaquina Bay on 5/12 (WH).
[Image Not Included: Dawn Villaescusa's photo of a hen Wood Duck with 3 of her 5 ducklings at Eckman Lake on May 12, International Migratory Bird Day & No. American Migration Count day. Photo from http://www.birdfellow.com/members/dawnvilla/field_reports/601-lincoln-county-namc-5-12-2012]
Offshore, BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES were noted during the 5/5 BGPT (GG) and from a cruise ship on 5/14 (JM, TC, & others). SOOTY SHEARWATERS, PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, and SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS were also noted during the 5/5 BGPT (GG).
In April, 2 Sooty Shearwaters were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). In May, live Sooty Shearwaters were often noted from land with a peak of 30,000+ on 5/4, when most were 1.5-3 miles from shore (PP). MANX SHEARWATERS were the only other shearwater noted at Boiler Bay (or elsewhere from shore) with 1-2 on 5/7, 8, &10 (PP).
Offshore, FORK-TAILED STORM-PETRELS were spotted during the 5/5 BGPT (GG), and 3 LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS were viewed 55 miles offshore from a cruise ship on 5/14 (JM, TC, & others). Fork-taileds are uncommon from shore, but one was noted at Yaquina Head on 5/22 (MC).
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS show a spring and fall migration along the coastline, but their migratory flocks can be misidentified as geese because Double-crested migrating flocks look similar to migrating geese at first glance and observers expect migrating geese more than cormorants. The first Double-crest migrating flock was a flock of 27 noted on 5/11 over southwest Newport (RB). The next day during International Migratory Bird Day YBNFT at Yaquina Head, participants were treated to a flock of both flying Double-crests and of Western Canada Geese to make a comparison (RB). The last report was of a flock of 14 over southwest Newport on 5/20 (RB).
There were many BROWN PELICAN reports, with 3 counts of more than 100 (150-285) during Boiler Bay seawatches on 5/7-14 (PP).
GREAT EGRET nesting has not been confirmed in Lincoln County, though a few stragglers have been seen here in past years during their nesting season, and in at least 1 year a Great Egret was in a Great Blue Heron colony near Newport where egrets could be expected to also nest. This May, 1-2 were sporadically noted at Yaquina Bay, Eckman Lake, and Siletz Bay (DV; DH; RL; MC; RB). But the big show was at a drying, flooded area on the north side of HWY 20 at Milepost 5 between Newport and Toledo. PD first reported 6 on 5/22 & 8 on 5/23; 9 were also recorded there on 5/23 & 25 (CP; BO & RB). On 5/31, CP tallied 11. However, this large concentration may not indicate nesting. On 5/25, two horses there disturbed the egrets before they could be examined for long breeding plumes extending beyond their tail, but only 1 of the 5 examined had long breeding plumes (BO & RB). Further, although there was a Great Blue Heron colony nearby, 5 perched away from the colony in a tree at Depot Slough near Toledo (BO & RB).
Our latest RED-SHOULDERED HAWK remained at the HMSC on 5/20 (JW & others).
1 MERLIN was viewed at the HMSC on 5/2 & 12 (JL; DV), Spanish Head on 5/5 (PP), and Seal Rocks on 5/20 (JW & others). PEREGRINE FALCONS were often noted.
[Image Not Included: Ever see a Rail's shadow? Ernie Rose's May 28 photo of a Virginia Rail that came out of the vegetation at Roads End (Lincoln City). Virginia Rails are usually secretive and concealed amongst marsh vegetation, where they would not cast a distinct shadow, so though common here, birders seldom see them and fewer would have a chance to see a Rail's shadow. This one also sports "punk" head feathers.]
2 GOLDEN-PLOVERS not identifiable to species passed Boiler Bay on 5/9 (PP).
SPOTTED SANDPIPERS in winter are only found upstream in estuaries, but in May they appear in the lower estuaries or even along the outer coast in rocky intertidal areas. This May, 1-2 were oft-reported near the coast, with a high count of 20 at Sally's Bend on 5/12 (DV).
Our latest WANDERING TATTLER was at Depoe Bay on 5/28 (JGi). Stragglers sometimes linger into June (SemiL).
WILLETS have become much less frequent over the years, and none were found this spring.
WHIMBREL numbers were low, with 38-60 on 5/9 at Boiler Bay (PP) and the beach at South Beach (WH), on 5/12 at Yaquina Bay (WH), and on 5/18 at Salmon River (TL). The latest were 15 at Beachside State Park on 5/27 (MG). Some nonbreeders regularly oversummer, so there should be some in June, too.
1-11 MARBLED GODWITS were at Idaho Flats on 5/7 (WH), Boiler Bay on 5/8 (PP), and Beachside State Park on 5/24 (MG).
1-4 RUDDY TURNSTONES passed Boiler Bay during 5 seawatches between 5/7-16 (PP), and 2 were at Seal Rocks on 5/12 (DV). 1-3 RED KNOTS were at Idaho Flats during 5/7-11 (WH; DH: ME), and 4-27 were at Boiler Bay during seawatches on 5/10&16 (PP).
WESTERN SANDPIPERS form the majority of spring shorebird migrants with a peak usually in the last week of April or the first week of May. As reported last month, they first became abundant on 4/24, and this month, they continued to be abundant with Boiler Bay seawatch counts of 3,000 on 5/1, 20,000 on 5/7, and 3,000+-4,000+ on 5/8, 9, 10 &11 (PP). 700 were still tallied there on 5/16 (PP); thereafter they became sparse, and the latest (1) was at Beachside State Park on 5/24 (MG).
Offshore during the 5/5 BGPT out of Newport "Flocks of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES near shore gave way to more RED PHALAROPES about 25 miles offshore" (GG). Onshore, Red-necked Phalaropes were often reported with 2,000+-7,000+ at Boiler Bay during 5/4-10 and 1,200+ on 5/16 (PP); our latest was 1 on 5/20 at Yaquina Head (JW & others). The only onshore Red Phalaropes were a few mixed with Red-necks around the "gull puddle" on the YBSJ on 5/11 (TW).
SABINE'S GULLS were offshore during the 5/5 BGPT (GG), but there were no reports from land.
Our first HEERMANN'S GULL was at Boiler Bay on 5/8 (PP), and 1 uncommon FRANKLIN'S GULL was also there on 5/14 (PP).
2 ARCTIC TERNS were offshore during the 5/5 BGPT (GG), and 1-9 COMMON TERNS were at Depoe Bay on 5/18 (JGi) and Yaquina Bay on 5/20 (JW & others). 4 Arctics or Commons passed about 2 miles off Boiler Bay on 5/9 (PP).
5 PARASITIC JAEGERS were seen from a cruise ship 55 miles offshore on 5/14 (JM, TC, & others).
Offshore, a rare CRESTED AUKLET was seen and photographed from a cruise ship on 5/14 (JM & 3 others in BirdNotes.net).
In April, an additional 5 TUFTED PUFFINS and 2 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were found dead along 4.6 miles of beach north of Ona Beach (B&SLo, L&VO). This is fewer than in March, but the January-April totals for both species are the highest for any year since BLo began these surveys in 1978, and there is still 8 months left in the year.
Live Tufted Puffins were seen offshore in May, and 1 was watched from shore at Boiler Bay on 5/4 & 14 (PP). A live HORNED PUFFIN was also found 28 miles offshore during the 5/5 BGPT (GG).
2-12 BLACK SWIFTS were over Newport on 5/13-15 (WH; SS), and 4 were over Devil's Lake on 5/28 (PP).
1 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was at the HMSC on 5/5 (JGa) and at BLl's Logsden home on 5/19.
Arrivals: PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER on 5/2 at Beaver Creek (DG), SWAINSON'S THRUSH on 5/11 in Toledo (DG), WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE at Beaver Creek State Natural Area on 5/12 (BF), and CEDAR WAXWING at Siletz Bay on 5/18 (DV).
Single WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS first appeared on 5/6 in Newport and South Beach (CW; EH) and were reported elsewhere throughout the rest of the month (WH; RC & WN; PR), with 2 near Devils Lake on 5/28 (PP). Will they linger to nest?
Swainson's Thrushes are usually shy, but on 5/25 at Wandemere, RC wrote: "for the past few days there is a Swainson's Thrush hanging around in the yard. This is a bird I never got good looks at before, as they always seem to be well hidden in thick brush or deep woods, yet this one is not at all shy about foraging out in the open like a robin. It seems moderately tame as it makes its rounds, so we see it several times each day on the driveway, on the patio, in the vegetable garden, and on a regular route along the deck."
PP found a vagrant, uncommon NASHVILLE WARBLER near Devil's Lake on 5/28.
Departures: FOX SPARROW at north Beaver Creek on 5/5 (LO), AMERICAN PIPIT at Seal Rocks on 5/12 (DV), and WESTERN MEADOWLARK at Depoe Bay on 5/26 (JGi).
Our first and only LAPLAND LONGSPUR so far this year flew over Boiler Bay on 5/9 (PP), and four unidentified longspurs in female plumage also passed there on 5/16 (PP).
On 5/20, P&JLi listened carefully and identified a rare, possible GRASSHOPPER SPARROW at the HMSC. Our only other record was on 27 April 2001 near Newport's LNG tank (WH).
SH had a rare PINE GROSBEAK visit a sunflower seed feeder 4 miles east of Siletz on 5/23; it was a russet-colored 1st year male or female. This is only our 5th record (SemiL, FN).
A male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK visited the Eddyville area during 5/19-21 (fide CP).
A LAZULI BUNTING graced Toledo on 5/8 & 18 (JH, AW & 30 others), 5/19-20 (TS), and 5/27 (DG & RP).
OBSERVERS/SOURCES: Betty Bahn, Range Bayer, Birding Oregon (http://birdingoregon.info/), http://BirdNotes.net, Marty Carah, Rebecca Cheek, Tom Crabtree, Dick Demarest, Pat Dickey, http://eBird.org (location and observer not accessible in "View and Explore Data" for "All Observations" but available through "Bar Charts"), Mark Elliott, fide ("as reported by" someone other than the observer), Brian Fowler, John Gatchet (JGa), Jeff Gilligan (JGi), Greg Gillson, Dawn Grafe, Merle Greenway, Bird Guide Pelagic Trip out of Newport (BGPT; info about pelagic trips at http://thebirdguide.com/pelagics/), Wayne Hoffman, Deb Holland, Eric Horvath, Jon Howry, Signe Hurd, Janet Lamberson, Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing (LCBNO) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LCBNO/), Peter and Judy List (P&JLi), Bob Llewellyn (BLl), Bob Loeffel (BLo) & Shirley Loeffel (SLo), Tom Love, Roy Lowe, Judy Meredith, Walt Nelson, Field Notes (FN; Lincoln County records from the Sandpiper since 1992 are searchable at http://yaquina.info/ybn/bird/bird.htm#recent), Bob Olson, Oregon Birders On-Line (OBOL; recent postings at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html), Laimons & Vicki Osis, Ram Papish, Chuck Philo, Phil Pickering, Paul Reed, SemiL (semimonthly Lincoln Co. bird records through 1992 for each species at ScholarsArchive@OSU [http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8070]), Terry Smith, Stacy Strickland, Dawn Villaescusa, Brandon Wagner, Tom Wainwright, Ariel Wisniewski, Jay Withgott with Wild Turkeys team for the Portland Audubon Society Birdathon, Chris Wright, Yaquina Birders & Naturalists (http://yaquina.info/ybn/) Field Trip (YBNFT) led by RB.
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